Fernandez-Vina, who was first appointed to the bench by former Gov. James McGreevey in 2004, would replace Supreme Court Justice Helen Hoens, whom Christie said he will not renominate because he expects Democrats in the legislature to block her.

Fernandez-Vina, who has led the Camden Vincinage since January 2012, did not issue his own statement on the nomination.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, on his naming Fernandez-Vina assignment judge in Camden County last year, said at the time he “brings to the position of assignment judge a wealth of experience, a proven, practical approach to addressing issues, superb judgment and the respect of the bench and bar.

“I am confident that under his leadership, the Camden Vicinage will continue to provide the highest quality of service to the public,” he added in a released statement.

According to reports by The Newark Star Ledger, Christie chose Fernandez-Vina because of his experience, his ethnic background as a Cuban-American and because he likes him personally.

The governor reportedly added that the current assignment judge is “smart, with common sense, who’s worked hard, been confirmed twice by the Senate himself and is leading one of the most complicated vicinages to run in this state.”

According to New Jersey Courts information, Fernandez-Vina began his career as a judge in July 2004 in the Camden Vicinages civil division, before moving to family court in 2006. He was later named presiding judge of the civil division in February 2007. He served on the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee.

Before becoming a judge, Fernandez-Vina was a partner at Kelley, Wardell & Craig from 1998 until 2004, and a partner at Capehart & Scatchard from 1993 until 1998, representing municipalities and specializing in legal malpractice.

Born in Santiago, Cuba, in February 1952, Fernandez-Vina graduated from Widener University and the Rutgers University School of Law in Camden.

Lesniak reportedly said such a block would be retribution for the governor’s refusal to renominate Justice John Wallace Jr., a Democrat and the state Supreme Court’s only African-American, in 2010.

Hoens, a Republican, on Monday issued a statement on the New Jersey Courts website.

“I am immensely grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the people of the State of New Jersey over the course of the last 19 and a half years as a judge at the trial level, as a judge of the Appellate Division and, most recently, as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey,” read the statement, in part.

“I have tried, in each of those roles, to approach each and every matter with an open and unbiased mind, to treat each litigant before the court with dignity and respect, to temper each decision with patience and compassion, and to apply the law as I understood it both faithfully and fairly,” said Hoens. “I am content, therefore, to let history judge me based on the body of work that I have had a part in creating.”